Nearly two dozen children and teens competed in the 2013 4-H Public Speaking Contest at the University of Delaware’s Carvel Research & Education Center in Georgetown on Feb. 16.

The young orators competed in four age divisions: beginner for ages 8 and 9, intermediate for ages 10 and 11, junior for ages 12 and 13, and senior for ages 14 and older. Three, brave 4-H’ers also competed in the new extemporaneous speaking category in which competitors were assigned topics just 20 minutes before going on stage.

The following 4-H’ers won their divisions, with the winners of the four age groups to compete at the state level during the Delaware State Fair in July:

(From left) Aydan Vanderwende of Bridgeville, who won the beginner division with his speech “Must Love Dogs”; Meredith Carey of Bridgeville, who won the intermediate division with “A Leader and Role Model!”; Jill Koski of East New Market, Md., who won the junior division with “There’s No Plate Like Home”; Mikayla Ockels of Milton, who won the senior division with “Your True Nature”; and Stephen Magee of Lincoln, who won the extemporaneous division with “A Favorite Family Memory.”